[Antibacterial effect of essential oil of mastic resin on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Clostridium sporogenes]

Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Clostridium sporogenes can produce food poisoning and gastro enteritis in human beings. Alcoholic Essential oil of Bene tree exudates or wild pistachio [Pistacia atlantica subsp.Kurdica] has known antimicrobial activity against most microorganisms. The aim of this study was to determine in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Bene tree essential oil exudates. In this study, antibacterial effects of alcoholic essential oil of Bene tree exudates on Staphylococcus aureus [PTCC 1431], Escherichia coli [PTCC 1338] and Clostridium sporogenes [PTCC 1651] were examined three times, by filter paper disc diffusion method, broth dilution method, determination of minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimal bactericidal concentration [MBC]. For data analysis we used SPSS software and t-test. On the basis of statistical results, inhibition zones of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, each with concentration of 50mg/ml and Clostridium sporogenes with concentration of 120 mg/ml bacteria were 13.14 +/- 0.32, 11.16 +/- 0.4 and 8.8 +/- 0.3 respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive and Clostridium sporogenes was the most resistant bacteria to essential oil of Bene. Minimal inhibitory concentrations for Clostridium sporogenes, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 80, 5.5 and 0.6 mg/ml respectively and respective minimal bactericidal concentrations for Clostridium sporogenes, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were determined 120, 80 and 20 mg/ml. Alcoholic essential oil of Bene tree exudates exhibited not only inhibitory effect but also antibacterial effects on the Staphylococcus aureus [PTCC 1431], Escherichia coli [PTCC 1338] and Clostridium sporogenes [PTCC 1651]. Considering the organoleptic effects of alcoholic essential oil of Bene tree, it can be used as a preservative

[Evaluation of the impact vaccination program among children and mothers during in southern khorasan province in 2005 year]

Vaccination is one of the most important index for disease prevention program. Therefore this study conducted to assess the coverage of vaccination program to identify the delay or disruption of program in 2005 year. Health profiles [vaccination card] of children between 15-26 months assessed. We did interview with their mothers as well. This survey was conducted in rural and urban area in southern Khorasan province in Iran during 2005. The coverage of children and mother's vaccination were 96.7% and 71.1% respectively. The study findings showed that inadequate information about the arrangement of dosage, distance to health centre and feeling the necessity of vaccination were most factors for incomplete converge of vaccination program. Based on study findings educational program to increase mothers awareness is recommended

Electrical conductivity, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis of manganites of some transition metals

Different samples of some manganite of cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc were prepared and subjected to thermal analyses and electrical conductivity measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a thermal stability of the system from 150 degree C up to 500 degree C. the DTA curves indicated that there is no change in phase as a function of temperature. The a.c. conductivity as a function of temperature range 25-390 degree C showed that all the prepared samples behave as semi conductor materials. There are a distinct change in the slop [knee]for all samples, The samples of formula with X=1 contain the least impurity content. Diffuse reflectance measurements show a common absorption at 3.53 [eV] which is independent on the sample composition. From the result it may be canceled that adding Co, Ni, Cu and Zn ion to Mn2O3 almost exhibits nochange in the structure of the spinel

[Locoregional anesthesia intravenous [a about 500 cases]]

Intravenous locoregional anesthesia [IVLRA] is simple, efficient, and low cost technic ; it is indicated in a hand and forearm surgery especially in emergency and ambulatory patient. A 500 patients series during 7 years experience is reported. These patients were admitted in our hospital for surgical indications concerning their hand or their forearm. 310 patients were treated by delayed surgery and 190 others treated in emergency. Double tourniquet technique was used and the drug injected was 0.5 percent lidocaine without any adrenaline. Average duration of tourniquet put on was 75 minutes [30-120 minutes]. 15 cases of IVLRA were converted to general anesthesia: 10 for very painful tourniquet and 5 others for surgical act needing more than 120 minutes

Limb / pelvis hypoplasia / aplasia [Al-Awadi / Raas-Rothschild] syndrome in three new Kuwaiti patients: Clinical and radiological description

This study describes three new patients in 2 Kuwaiti families having AI-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild syndrome. The cases had intercalary and distal limb reduction malformations, hypoplastic pelvic bones [LPAH syndrome] and unusual facial features. Clinical examination, skeletal survey, echocardiography, ultrasonography of head / abdomen, chromosomal study and FISH technique were done. The patients were 2 males and a female, having prenatal and postnatal growth delay. Two cases had capillary hemangiomata, sparse / brown hair, short nose, dysplastic / flabby ears and retrognathia. Symmetric limb reduction defects, phallus and clitoris enlargement have been found. The 1[st] case had balanced, reciprocal translocation, t [1,3][q32:q21], while the 2[nd] and the 3[rd] cases had normal karyotype. Skeletal survey showed variable limb reduction defects in the three cases. The patients share in common the severe pelvic hypoplasia, symmetric limb reduction defects, normal mentality and recessive mode of inheritance. These 3 new Kuwaiti families are added to the previously reported families in Kuwait Medical Genetics Center [KMGC]

Perinatally acquired tuberculosis in a neonate

To report a case of perinatal tuberculosis that appeared on the 21th day of life of an infant born to a mother with latent tuberculosis. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A preterm male infant was born by spontaneous vertex delivery at 33 weeks gestational age to a 33-year-old primiparous Philippine woman. The infant was well until the 21st day of life when he developed recurrent episodes of cyanosis and bradycardia. A chest radiograph showed infiltrates which were thought to be bacterial in origin. Blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were normal. Tracheal aspirate revealed acid-fast bacilli by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, later confirmed to be Mycobacterium tuberculosis by culture in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. The mother was later diagnosed as a case of tuberculosis with symptoms, signs and radiologic manifestation of hilar lymphadenopathy with mild pleural effusion and positive tuberculin skin test. Both infant and mother were treated with intravenous isoniazid, intravenous rifampicin, oral pyrazinamide, and intravenous pyridoxine. Both recovered. A preterm male infant perinatally acquired tuberculosis, most likely by inhalation of the bacteria during delivery. Both infant and mother responded well to antituberculous treatment

Incidence and risk factors associated with the patency of ductus arteriosus in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome in Kuwait

Patent ductus arteriosus [PDA] is considered to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality among preterm infants. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of PDA in ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] and to evaluate the role of some antenatal risk factors on its occurrence in our population. The case records of the preterm infants of <34 weeks gestational age, who were ventilated for RDS at the neonatal intensive care unit of Maternity Hospital, Safat, Kuwait, between March 1998 and February 1999, were reviewed. Diagnosis of PDA was based on echocardiographic findings. The association between the risk factors chosen and the PDA was also evaluated. A total of 101 infants whose gestational ages ranged between 25-33 weeks, and birth weights between 685-1580 grams were included. Fifty-four had a significant PDA [53.4%]. Maternal diabetes and antepartum hemorrhage [APH], birth weights, gestational ages, multiplicity and gender of the infants were found to be related to the incidence of PDA. The incidence of PDA in our ventilated preterm infants with RDS is similar to those reported from other neonatal units outside Kuwait. There are some factors that may identify babies, who are prone to develop PDA, which need to be confirmed by further prospective studies using a larger population

Studies of the effect of additions of some elements on the electrical conductivity of strontium titanate

The AC conductivity as a function of temperature was measured in the temperature range of 298-748K at a frequency of 20 kHz for pure and doped SrTiO3. The plots of log sigma showed that all curves had the same feature in common whatever the type or concentration of dopants. The curves possessed two horizontal plateaux where the values of sigma did not change with temperature. There were three linear parts where the conductivity increased as a function of temperature. The values of activation energy for conduction delta E1, delta E2 and delta E3 were calculated for these parts. A further increase of dopants created imperfections

dielectric properties of chromium trioxide and its suboxides

Both the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of chromium trioxide and some suboxides were measured at different temperatures and various frequencies. It was found that the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss for chromium oxides increased as the temperature increased. The specific electric conductivity for the samples was calculated from the dielectric loss measurements. It was found that the calculated conductivity is in the same order of 10-6 cm-1 as measured by AC conductivity

Knowledge, attitude and practice survey of family planning among doctors, medical students and nurses

The survey included 500 medical personnel in Cairo, 374 were doctors [Excluding Ob/Gyn], 80 medical students from 6th grade and 46 nurses. 27.8% of the doctors and 25% of the medical students were males. 84.2 of doctors were married while the married students and nurses formed 18.7% and 65.2% respectively. The mean number of children per family for married doctors was 1.7 child, 1.0 for married medical students and 3.3 for the married nurses. The mean number of children desired family size for married doctors, medical students and nurses was lower, as it was 1.3, 2.8 and 2.9 respectively. On the other hand, the mean number of children desired family size for the unmarried doctors, medical students and nurses was 2.1, 1.9 and 2.9 respectively. The main family planning [F.P] method used was IUD as it constitutes 59% of doctors, 46.6% of nurses. The pill users were 7.6% of doctors and 6.7% of medical students. Only 11% of doctors were practicing physiological and local methods of contraception.The main source of the latest knowledge about F.P. was the knowledge during media study, the public media mainly TV added to their knowledge.The group who gain knowledge about F.P. from mothers and friends constitue 1.3% of doctors, 25% of medical students and 65.2% of nurses. Doctors were found to have the best knowledge as regard types, mode and timing of use and awarrence with possible complications as 77.5% and 49.2% of them were having average level of knowledge as regards IUD and pills and only about 4% of them having excellent knowledge for these methods Medical students were next to doctors as 56.5% and 38.7% were having average knowledge about IUD and pills respectively, while only 26% of nurses were having average knowledge about IUD and pills only

Infrared spectra of different chromium oxides

Infrared spectra were recorded for eight samples of chromium trioxide and some of its suboxides [CrO3-x, x=0-1.50] which were prepared from the thermal decomposition of CrO2 in a closed system at definite temperature. These are CrO2.88, CrO2.67, CrO2.51, CrO2.46, CrO2.41, CrO1.98 and CrO1.50. X-ray analysis indicates that, each sample contains a single oxidation state of Cr and one crystallographic phase. The infrared absorption measurements declared that the first samples [CrO2 and CrO2.88] represent valence six Cr6 +/- at 906 cm-1. Valency 5+ is quite clear from the absorption bands of CrO2.67, CrO2.51, CrO2.46 and CrO2.41 at 534 and 740 cm-1. In this group the absorption band at 450 cm-1 is very sensitive to changes in oxygen deficiency. The infrared spectra of CrO1.98 and CrO1.50 are coincident with those obtained for Cr4+ and Cr3+, respectively